Janice "Jan" (Rech) Kroeger

Janice “Jan” (Rech) Kroeger, 83, of Evansville, passed away peacefully Sunday, December 27, 2015, at The Charlier Hospice Center at Deaconess VNA Plus. She was born June 15, 1932, in Evansville, to the late Edward and Mildred Rech.

She was a 1950 graduate of Benjamin Bosse High School and then attended Indiana State College in Terra Haute, finishing at William & Mary College in Williamsburg VA. Jan married her high school sweetheart, Ron Kroeger, on June 7, 1953, and they lived a very full life together for 63 years. She was a sweet, loveable, and dedicated wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, and aunt. The example of a loving family unit she maintained was carried thru all family activities from camping in the mountains of Southern California, to vacations, to holiday gatherings, continues today with the offspring of the wonderful marriage of Jan and Ron. Her hobbies included playing the piano (occasional missed note acceptable), singing in church choirs, and dancing. Many good times were had dancing to music on Friday nights at the Community Center (the old USO) on Main and 8th. She loved flowers and gardening and many brought their ‘sick’ plants to her to rehabilitate with her green thumb. Jan loved animals, especially dogs and horses. She received her fill of animals when she and Ron owned a horse ranch in Spencer County after retirement (she was able to garden here as well). Jan was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Evansville. She loved volunteering her time to the church and over the years sang in the choir, taught Sunday school, played the piano, and worked on putting together Christmas pageants. The family moved many times to various locations (Indiana, Kentucky, Northern and Southern California, Virginia, New York, and Washington DC) and she was able to make a great home for her family and made many friends throughout the country.

Janice is survived by her husband, Ron Kroeger; children, Mark (Cathy) Kroeger of Santa Claus, IN, Matt (Katrina) Kroeger of Ft. Worth, TX, Marcia (Curtis) Kroeger Hopkins of Evansville, and Michael Kroeger of Evansville; grandchildren, Christopher (Tara) Goodson, Jonathon Goodson, Oksana Kroeger, Shannon (Adam) Kroeger Hembree, Shelley (John) Kroeger DeLisle, Max Kroeger, and Sam Kroeger; brother, Bill (Kathy) Rech of Florida; and many nieces and nephews. She was loved by all.

Celebration of Life Services will 4:00 PM Saturday, January 2, 2016, at Alexander East Chapel, officiated by Rev. Robert Schneider. Friends may visit Saturday from 2:00 PM until service time.

In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Our Savior Lutheran Church or to The Charlier Hospice Center at Deaconess VNA Plus. Condolences may be made online at www.AlexanderEastChapel.com.